1983 Ford Thunderbird Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1983 Ford Thunderbird, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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3 safety recalls for the 1983 Ford Thunderbird

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

   NHTSA 83V039000 Reported April 11, 1983 250 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Fuel leaks could develop in either of two connections in a fuel supply line. One connection under the vehicle may have been damaged or improperly installed. The other suspect part is in the engine compartment and contains a pressure relief valve.

   Remedy: The dealer will install a revised design fuel line valve assembly with new hose clamps and replace the fuel supply hose clamp, if it is damaged or incorrect. Notification was made to dealers prior to any recorded…

2. Automatic transmission (power train)

   NHTSA 83V028000 Reported March 7, 1983 98,162 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage may not engage the parking gear.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl actuating rod assembly.

3. Tank assembly (fuel system)

   NHTSA 83V012000 Reported February 8, 1983 2,673 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some of these vehicles may have been built with fuel tanks that have inadequately welded front seams that can leak.

   Remedy: The dealer will determine if the vehicle was corrected at the factory; if not, the fuel tank will be replaced at no charge to the owner.

3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1983 Ford Thunderbird have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 24,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Electrical system1
• Fuel system, other: fuel pump1
• Seat belts: buckle assembly1
• Vehicle speed control1

What owners are reporting

“The vehicle caught fire under the dash board. The dealer indicated it was an electrical fire. *nlm the vehicle turned over but wouldn't start. The dealer was unable to duplicate. Metal shavings were f”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 20, 2003 · Fuel system, other

“The cruise control came on without warning at 5 MPH on wet street, as it was raining, and hit another vehicle. I was changing from one insurance company to another and was not covered, dealorship ford”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 6, 2001 · Vehicle speed control

Compare Ford Thunderbird model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Thunderbird model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1983 Ford Thunderbird

Other Ford models

• F-15037,961 complaints
• Explorer34,566 complaints
• Escape27,430 complaints
• Fusion22,405 complaints
• Focus22,096 complaints
• Taurus18,159 complaints
• Windstar14,158 complaints
• Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.